Pelargonium plant named ‘Pacpolly’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Ivy Geranium plant named ‘Pacpolly’, characterized by its uniformly mounding, rounded and cascading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and dark orange semi-double flowers that are positioned above and beyond the foliar plane.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium peltatum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PACPOLLY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of IvyGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Pacpolly’.

The new Ivy Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to develop new vigorous Ivy Geranium plants withuniform plant habit and numerous attractive semi-double flowers.

The new Ivy Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2010 of twounnamed proprietary selections of Pelargonium peltatum, not patented.The new Ivy Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden,Germany in June, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Ivy Geranium plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden,Germany since December, 2011 has shown that the unique features of thisnew Ivy Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Pacpolly’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Pacpolly’ as a new and distinct Ivy Geraniumplant:

-   -   1. Uniformly mounding, rounded and cascading plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely basal branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Dark orange semi-double flowers that are positioned above and        beyond the foliar plane.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ primarily from plants of theparent selections in plant habit as plants of the new Ivy Geranium aremore uniform than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium can be compared to plants of thePelargonium peltatum ‘Pacapri’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,089.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ fromplants of ‘Pacapri’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium are more mounding than plants        of ‘Pacapri’.    -   2. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium are not as vigorous as plants        of ‘Pacapri’.    -   3. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have more flowers per umbel        than plants of ‘Pacapri’.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Ivy Geranium have more petals        than flowers of plants of ‘Pacapri’.    -   5. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium and ‘Pacapri’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Pacapri’ have apricot-colored flowers.    -   6. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have shorter peduncles and        pedicels than plants of ‘Pacapri’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Ivy Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Ivy Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pacpolly’ grown in acontainer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 19-cm containers during the summerin a glass-covered greenhouse in Dresden, Germany and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Ivy Geranium production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., nighttemperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to100 kilolux. Plants were pinched two times and were nine months old whenthe photograph and the detailed description were taken. In the detaileddescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium peltatum ‘Pacpolly’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Pelargonium peltatum, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Pelargonium peltatum, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Uniformly mounding, rounded and            cascading plant habit; densely foliated; moderately vigorous            growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely basal branching            habit with numerous lateral branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 38 cm.        -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 29 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 30 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 40 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Internode length: About 2 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:            Close to 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Mostly opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Palmately lobed.        -   Apex.—Pointed.        -   Base.—Cordate; open.        -   Margin.—Entire, lobed.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Sparsely pubescent along the veins.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A; venation,            close to 146D. Zonation pattern: Not discernable.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Semi-double rotate            flowers arranged in hemispherical umbels arising from apical            leaf axils; umbels displayed above and beyond the foliar            plane on strong peduncles; umbels and flowers face upright            to outwardly; freely flowering habit; about eleven flowers            per umbel and numerous umbels developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants begin            flowering about four months after planting; in the garden in            Germany, flowering begins in May and continues until frost            in the autumn.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about six to ten days on the            plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on the plant;            flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 5 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 8.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.7 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Spindle-shaped to rounded. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About 17 in several whorls;            petals imbricate. Length: About 2 cm to 2.2 cm. Width: About            1.6 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cuneate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety; undulate. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 40A; small markings, close            to 45A; towards the base, close to 155D; venation, close to            40A; color does not change with development. When opening            and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 41C; towards the            base, close to 155D; venation, close to 41C.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: If present, up to three at            the center of the flower. Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm.            Width: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Shape: Irregular. Apex: Pointed            to rounded. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; crinkled.            Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 40A; towards the base, close to 155D; venation, close to            40A; color does not change with development. When opening            and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 41C; towards the            base, close to 155D; venation, close to 41C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: About six arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 144A.        -   Peduncles (umbel stems).—Length: About 11 cm. Diameter:            About 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Upright to outwardly            slanted. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Pedicels (individual flower stems).—Length: About 2.5 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture:            Slightly pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About four. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:            Tubular. Anther color: Close to 54A. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pullen color: Close to 168C. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma            shape: Five to six-parted. Stigma color: Close to 52A. Style            length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 36D. Ovary color:            Close to 148D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development            have not been observed on plants of the new Ivy Geranium.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Ivy    Geranium plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about    35° C. to 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Ivy Geranium plant named ‘Pacpolly’as illustrated and described.